Blogging the Campus Values: NON-VIOLENCE

This is the seventh and final piece in a series (see the first, second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth) of blog posts with some guest writers. I have asked some of my co-workers from the Campus for Human Development to write some personal reflections on the seven core values that are contained in our mission statement:


“Through the power of spirituality and the practice of love, the Campus for Human Development provides hospitality with a respect that offers hope in a community of non-violence.”

The culminating core value—the value that the other ones lead to—is Non-Violence. Following words on non-violence by our founding director, Charlie Strobel, Edith shares her thoughts on types of violence and ways to overcome them.

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Charles Strobel:

Our last core value is our most important one, as it relates to our overall vision for the world. Given that our spirituality is the origin for all our life’s actions, without the mission of peacemaking it remains empty and void of true purpose.

Hatred begets violence, and violence begets wars. The world of the homeless is filled with hatred and violence. The Campus defines violence as four-fold: physical, verbal, racial and sexual. We call on everyone—participants, staff and volunteers—to create an atmosphere free of violence of every kind.

The normal response to violence is the discipline and protection of the law. The Campus understands that legal protections are limited and do not always bring justice. What remains for the homeless is a culture of “taking the law into your own hands,” since many believe that they should not suffer injustices passively.

The principles of non-violence are not based on passivity. They are an active force rooted in love and respect. They are counter-cultural. Non-violence believes that love disarms conflicts, deescalates violence, and diffuses hatred.

The Campus can be free of violence out of fear of violence. This is not what the principles of non-violence teach. Martin Luther King’s principles describe a different vision:
-Non-violence is a courageous act practiced by the strongest of people.
-Non-violence never seeks to embarrass or destroy the opponent but calls for better understanding of the other.
-Non-violence is not aimed at “evil” people, but only evil ideas, practices and laws.
-Non-violence requires that one be able to endure suffering without retaliation.
-Non-violence not only resists physical violence, but an internal one as well. It is critical for one to love the enemy or else one’s hatred only contributes to the same evil exerted by the enemy.
-Non-violence believes that the “universe is on the side of justice.” Faith in the future means that the struggle for justice is not in vain.

Although the law allows everyone the right of self-defense, the Campus invites staff and volunteers to embrace the principles of non-violence while at the Campus.

Over the years of our Campus history, these applied principles are responsible for creating a violent-free world within their larger world of violence. Often taken for granted and unmentioned, the sanctuary we provide remains one of our greatest lessons—namely, that people of diverse backgrounds can live together in peace and resolve their differences through reasonable dialogue, not force.

On first coming to the Campus, some may question the value of non-violence and its primary importance at the Campus—wondering even if anyone can practice it. In time, the mystery of living it out is discovered in living out the other six core values. By living out our other six core values, one cannot help but become non-violent, thus creating one’s personal circle of non-violence. Believing in the first six core values leads to a belief in non-violence.

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Guest Blogger: Edith Costanza

I am going to begin with the premise that it is our basic human nature to be violent and it is our “higher self” which seeks non-violence. If I am going to be “non-violent,” to practice “non-violence,” then I need to ask myself some questions and I need to pt into play non-violent strategies for daily living.

Questions: What am I violent toward? Why am I violent toward _________? What are the motives in bringing out my violence?

I can be violent towards environment, infrastructure and people. Quick examples: environment-pollution, infrastructure-tagging, and people-racial epithets. Everyone who’ll read this is intelligent. Do the thinking. Expand the list of reasons, motives and examples.

Strategies: Environment- Join, begin, or support an organization dedicated so some aspect of helping the environment. Infrastructure-Keep your dwelling insulated, build efficient public buildings, restructure and upgrade existing dwellings for more efficient usage. People-Be kind. Don’t gossip, period. Assume the best about people rather than the worst. Be patient in traffic and don’t curse at people in your car. To curse at all is a violent act—small, but violent. Give people your attention. Be more interested in understanding another’s viewpoint, instead of being “right.” Ask him this question: “How did you come to think that about___________?” And then listen and don’t argue the person down. Remember, you’d simply like to know, so you might be able to find common ground.

I think there are many examples of people being non-violent at the Campus. There are people who are extremely positive in their outlook and rarely have anything negative to say about anyone. There are people who are able to diffuse fights with humor and grace. There are people who everyday give the participants the benefit of the doubt.

About me. I just want to say that being an art therapist for the Campus is grace on a daily basis. I love being able to use my creativity and encourage people to explore and/or develop their own artistry. In this context this is enough about who I am. For more info, visit my website at edithcostanza.com.


Edith is the Campus's art therapist. She teaches art classes for the general population and for the men in our Odyssey program. She also led our peace-themed spring staff retreat. One of my favorite memories of the first week I worked at the Campus was getting to go to one of Edith's art classes. She has a way of pulling creativity out of anybody and making people feel relaxed and at home. I always like to stick my head in the art room to see what's going on.

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THANK YOU!

I want to thank everyone from the Campus who took the time to write their reflections on our core values: Fred, Jana, Anneice, Mary, Rachel, Martina, Harry, Charlie, Maggie and Edith. They really turned out well and helped me express what goes on at the Campus every day to those who read from home, Second Pres., and around the Presbyterian Church.